Golf training aid



Aug. 20, 1968 w. A. s'rAHL. 3,397,892

GOLF TRAINING AID Filed July 2, 1955 INVENTOR. WAL 752 4. 574 94,

02/VEYS.

United States Patent 3,397,892 GOLF TRAINING AID Walter A. Stahl, P.0. Box 22, Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44022 Filed July 2, 1965, Ser. No. 469,094

8 Claims. (Cl. 273-190) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A golf training aid having a rigid positioning rod adjustably secured at one end to a vertical support to extend at an acute angle to the horizontal along a lin coinciding with the axis of a golfers neck. To ,the other end of the rod, a yoke is connected for rotation about an axis coaxial with the rod. In one embodiment, the yoke has a curved portion extending over the head of the golfer. Each of the two ends of the curved portion has a saddle to engage a shoulder of the golfer.

the axis extending through the neck and the top of the head of the golfer, so that, in executing a swing, the turn or rotation of the shoulders is made on this axis. Shoulder turns attempted to be made on an axis other than that passing through the golfers neck and the top of his head ignore the anatomical fact that shoulder turns can be made freely and fully, only on this axis.

The primary object of the present invention is the provision of golf training aids whose use assures free and full shoulder turns, on the above described axis.

Another object of the invention is the provision of devices of the kind indicated, which are simple and uncomplicated in construction, low in cost, and comfortable and easy to use.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic side elevation, showing a device of the invention in use by a golfer;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, contracted side elevation of said device;

FIGURE 3 is a contracted end elevation of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a further enlarged fragmentary vertical transverse section, taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side elevation, on the scale of FIGURE 2 showing another form of device of the invention, in use;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical transverse section taken on the line 66 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary perspective view on a reduced scale, of a further form of device of the invention; and,

FIGURE 8 is a schematic perspective view of a still further form of device of the invention.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and first to FIG- URES 1 to 4 thereof, A designates a form of device which comprises a fixed vertical support, such as a ground anchored post 10, having slidably circumposed thereon a bracket 11 comprising a tubular adjustment sleeve, adapted to be secured, in height adjustments, on the post 10, as by means of a set screw 14. The sleeve 12 has a fixed boss 16 which extends outwardly and downwardly therefrom, at an angle calculated to be proper, relative to the horizontal, for a golfers positioning of his head ice 18 and neck 20, when addressing a golf ball and executing a swing.

The device A further comprises a straight rigid positioning rod 22, suitably fixed, at its upper end, to and in line with the boss 16, and fixed, at its lower end, to the center of the arcuate cross member 24 of an inverted U-shaped yoke 26. The yoke 26 is of a width between the straight parallel vertical legs 28, to amply clear the sides of the golfers head 18, and reach down to the golfers shoulders 30. Fixed or otherwise formed, on the lower ends of the legs 28, and disposed in a plane at right angles to the plane of the yoke 26, are arcuate saddles 32. The saddles 32 are of a contour and width to rest comfortably upon the top of the golfers shoulders, while bearing against the front and rear of the shoulders, as shown in FIGURE 1, with the centers of the saddles aligned with the yoke legs 28.

The positioning rod 22 has incorporated therein, possibly adjacent to the lower end thereof, a rotary joint 34, which, while keeping the upper and lower sections 36 and 38, respectively, in line with each other, provides for free rotation of the lower rod section 38, and the yoke 26, relative to the upper rod section 36, and the fixed support post 10.

The rotary joints 34 can comprise, as shown in FIG- URE 4, a pair of opposed and reversed collars 40, freely circumposed on the related positioning rod sections, which have, at their meeting and abutting ends, lateral annular flanges 42. The collars 40 have abutted lateral annular flanges 44, at their meeting ends, which are secured together as by means of screws 46. The facing sides of the collars are formed with circular recesses 48, which accommodate the rod section flanges 42.

In use and operation, the golfer having placed his shoulders 30 in the saddles 32, with his neck 20 and head 18 held coaxially on an axis aligned with the positioning rod 22, a swing is properly executed by moving the arms and the shoulders 30, through a swing, with the head 18 held stationary. While some latitude is permitted by the device for one shoulder being higher than the other, initially, and in the course of the execution of a swing, the device serves to maintain therethrough, a correct positional relationship between the golfers head, neck, and shoulders.

The form of device B, shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, is similar to the device A, of FIGURES 1 to 4, except for the addition of a more positive head positioning and holding assembly 50. The assembly 50 comprises a rod 52, aligned with the positioning rod 22b and fixed, at its upper end, to the juncture of the arcuate cross member 34 of the yoke 26, and the support rod 22b. The lower end of the rod 52 has axially afiixed thereto, as indicated at 54, an enlarged diameter circular, inverted pan-shaped head cap 56, which is dimensioned and formed to conformably engage the top of the golfers head 18.

The form of device C, shown in FIGURE 7, has a yoke 260, in the form of a straight horizontal bar 58, at Whose ends, saddles 320 are fixed and extend forwardly. The lower section 38c of the positioning .rod 220, is, instead of being straight, as in devices A and B, formed with a rearwardly offset portion 60. The positioning rod 22c is adapted to be fixedly secured to a post, as in the devices A and B.

The form of device D, as shown in FIGURE 8, like the devices A, B and C, involves a ground anchored post 10d, carrying an adjustable bracket 11d, to which a positioning rod 22d is fixed. In this instance, however, the positioning rod 22d extends upwardly, rather than downwardly, from the post 10d, at the same angle to th horizontal as the support rods of devices A, B and C, and the yoke 26d is fixed on the upper end, rather than the lower end, of the support rod 22d.

The upper section 36d of the positioning rodil d is rearwardly offset, as indicated at 62, relative to'the lower section 38d thereof, so as to clear the golfers back. The yoke 26d comprises a horizontal bar or rod 64' afiixed to the upper end of the positioning rod 22d,- and afiixed, at its ends, to saddles 32d, which extend upwardly and forwardly fromthe bar 64. r Y The use and operation of the devices B, C, the same as for the device A.

What is claimed is:i I I 1. A golf training aid comprising a rigid positioning rod, means on one end of said rod for securing said rod at an adjustable height toa fixed upstanding support to extend at an acute angle to the horizontal along a line coinciding with the axis of the neck and through the head of a golfer whose stance is appropriate for a golf swing, a yoke, swivel means connecting said-yoke to the other end of said rod for free rotation about an axis co: axial with the axis of said rod, said yoke having a portion extending on each side of a vertical plane containing said rod, and each of said portions terminating in a rigid shoulder-embracing saddle shaped to seat on the top of and exert downward pressure on a shoulderof a golfer.

2. A golf training aid according to claim 1, wherein said yoke is of inverted U-shaped large enough to freely span the head of a golfer and comprises an arcuate base to the center of which said swivel means is connected, and a pair of laterally spaced, downwardly extending legs, said saddles also being inverted U-shaped members lying in planes normal to the plane of said yoke and being respectively fixed near their centers to the lower ends of the legs of said yoke.

3. A golf training aid according to claim 2 wherein said positioning rod is formed by upper and lower sections joined -by said swivel means.

i 4. A golf training aid according to claim 3 wherein D, aresaidp sitioning rod is adapted to extend at a downward angle relative to the support, said -yoke"is carried at the lower end of the positioning rod, and said positioning rod is straight throughout its'length.

5. A golf training aidaccording to claim 2 wherein is additionally provided head positioning assembly comprising a rod fixed to and extending downwardly from said arcuate base of'theyokejsaid' pendant 'rod being axially aligned with the positioning rod saidpehdant-rod having a lower end spaced above the saddles, and a head holding member mounted on the lower end of the pendant rod,

6. A golf trainingaidaccor'difi'g to claim 5 wherein said head-holding membercomprises,antinverted panshaped cap A ol said positioning rod adapted to extend at an upward angle relativeto the'snpport,"said yoke is carried at the upper endof the positioning 'rod, and theupper section of the positioning rod is rearwardly olfsetrelative to the lower section thereof." J p I A golf training aid according to claim 1 wherein said 'yoke' comprises a horizontal rod centrally fixed to the positioning ro'd,"said saddles being fixed on'the ends of said horizontal rod, and extending forwardly therefrom. v p i References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,611,610 *9/1952 Hara 273-190 X 3, 1'38, 388 6/1964 Herold 273-188X training aid according to claim wherein 

